St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-07-02
THE VICTORIAN JUBILEE.
"A Million of People Congratulate the
Queen of England.

The first day June 21 of the tfty-first
year Of the reign of Queen Victoria over
Great Britain opened with perfect sum-
mer weather in London. A lovelier day
could not have been desired for the cele
oratlon of her majestys jubilee. The
sun shone bright, the air was clear and
not very warm, and a gentle breeze blew
steadily. The crowds scattered over the
city were unprecedented in numbers and
size. Thousands of people who selected
locations along the route of the
procession in order to retain them
occupied them all the night, and
many used camp-stools or improvised
rests to enable them to withstand the
long and tiresome occupation. A steady
stream of carriages and pedestrians
poured constantly all night until dawn
through the city from all directions to-
ward the West End. At five o'clock in
the morning every point of vantage along
the streets composing the royal process
sion route was secured. At nine oc clock
the line of route was on each side a COM
pact mass of people Every body, despite
the discomfort of the crowding, mani
tested the utmost good humor.
The scene in Westminster Abbey was
extremely brilliant. The great editice
@was filled with the elite of England of all
ranks and of all professions, and there
was possibly never gathered under one
roof in the past century larger assem-
hIdUp nf
of the world. The sun shone through
the historic stained windows of the
old minister upon a scene that is said
to have been simply indescribable.
Despite the array of buried greatness
entombed meath the Abbeys roof,
the hum of gossip soon began to
pervade its precincts. Cheers ere long
greeted Mr.. Gladstone, Lord Salisbury
and the other notabilities who entered
the Abbey. Flasks of rum and homely
sandwiches were snatched at by the hun
CRY crowd of notabies who had secured
seats hours in advance of the ceremonies,
irreverent though such conduct might
have appeared to the observer who ven
Grated the scenes of the commemorative
exercises.
The route of the procession from
buckingham Palace to the Abbey took
in the leading London thoroughfares.
Thousands of troops of the line and men
from the naval brigade kept the route
open and lined the entrances to the Alb
bey. The procession was led by the In
dian princes and a few of the minor
German princes, followed by kings and
representatives of nearly every nation in
Europe, in state carriages.
At 11.15 A. M. the royal coach emerged
from the palace gates to be greeted with
shouts from the throats of swarming
thousands who extended miles beyond
the beginning place of the parade. The
Queen was escorted by princes of the
houses of Romanoff, Hohenzollern, and
other German royal families and her sons
and grandsons. Following came aides
de-camp, princes, princesses, dukes and
duchesses, earls, countesses, baronets and
their ladies escorted by life-guards, Ian
GERS and dragons.
The religious services were begun
after the Queen had donned the corona
ton robes of state, and were conducted
by the Archbishops of Canterbury and
York and the Canon of Westminster.
The vast audience became hushed as the
Queen knelt in silent prayer. Special
prelates for the health of the Queen and
family and the safety of the realm.
These were followed by "Te
Deum" after setting of the
late Prince Consort's and the singing of
the twentieth psalm. After the render
ing of the anthem, the Queen, rising,
kissed the Prince of Wales and the other
royal personages who were seated on
the dais, and the grand ceremony ended.
The return to the palace was made amid
an unbroken swell Of popular acclama-
tions. The celebration is described as
stupendous success, and was marked by
but few casualties, considering the large
ness Of London's population.
The following is the Presidents letter
presenting his jubilee congratulations to
Queen Victoria:
Grover Czeueland President OF the United
States of 4anericn, to Her Majesty, Victoria,
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Ens-
press of b.diG-Great and good friend: In
the name and on behalf of the people of the
United States, | present their sincere felicita-
tions upon the arrival of the fiftieth ami
versary of your majesVs accession to the
eral voice of my fellow-countrymen in wish
ing for your people the prolongation of
reign so marked with advance in popular
weIl-being-physical moral and intellectual.
It is Justice ahd not adulation to acknowl-
edge the debt of gratitude and respect due
TO your personal virtues for their important
influence in producing and causing the
prosperous and well-ordered condition of
affairs now generally prevailing throughout
your dominions.
Nav your life be prolonged, and peace,
honor and prosperity bless the people over
whom YOU have been called to rule. May
liberty flourish throughout your empire
under Just and equal laws, and your govern
ment be strong in the affections of all who
live under it.
And pray God to have your majesty in
His holy keeping.
Done at Washington this 9th day of May,
n 1887 GROVER CLEVELAND
By the President: T. F. Bayard, Secretary
of State.
Great Names i'm Lowly Callings.
The Boston Street Directory, a Providence
zoa,.uoI raan has discovered, shows III. W.